Folding crate.



s. W. BANKSQYJR.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 190B.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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S W. BANKS, JR.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1908.

937 ,9 1 3. Patented Oct. 26, 1909. v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW. B. unnma 00.. pnomumnunnuaqsyasmnm'uy. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SANDY W. BANKS, JB., F ALANTHUS, VIRGINIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SANDY W. BANKS, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Alanthus, in the county of Culpeper, State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingCrates; and

, I do hereby declare the following to be a simplify the constructionand improve the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructeddevice which may be folded into box-like or crate form and with all theparts lying flat-wise and in a longitudinal plane when in open position.

With these and other objects inview the invention consists in aplurality of members hingedly united with the hinges all upon the samesides of the various members, so that the members will be folded intobox-like or crate form and lie flat-wise and in the same longitudinalplane when in open position, and fastening devices whereby the parts aredetachably united when in folded position.

The invention further consists in a box or crate formed with top andbottom members, end members, and side members hingedly united andfoldable into box-like or crate form, and with cleat members connectedto the end members and foldable over the top member, with the hinges allarranged upon the same sides of the various members, whereby when themembers are in open position they all lie fiatwise and in the samelongitudinal plane.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionas hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out inthe claim, and in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved device when inclosed position, Fig. 2 is a front view of the improved de vice inclosed position. Fig. 3 is an end view of the improved device in closedposition. Fig. 4 is a front View with the top elevated. Fig. 5 is a planView of the improved device with the parts opened out fiat or inposition for shipping.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 11, 1908.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909. Serial No. 437,920.

The improved device may be constructed of any desired size or of anysuitable material, according to the uses for which it 18 to i beemployed, and may be in crate-like or open construction or with solidmembers, as preferred, and for the purpose of illustration is shown withthe various members solid, so that when in folded position it presentsthe form of a closed box.

The improved device comprises a bottom member 10, a top member 11, sidemembers 1213, and end members 1415, the various members hingedly united,with the hinges all arranged upon the same sides, so that when in openposition the various members lie fiat-wise or with their opposite facesin the same longitudinal plane, and without projecting portions. Theside member 12 is hingedly connected at 1617 to one edge of the bottommember 10, the side member 13 is hingedly connected at 18-19 to theopposite edge of the bottom member 10, the top 11 hingedly united at2021 tothe adjacent edge of the side member 13, the end member 14'hingedly united at 22-28 to one end of the bottom member 10, and the endmember 15 hingedly united at 2425 to the opposite end of the bottommember 10 so that the end members 141-15 and the side members 12-13 maybe disposed at right angles to the bottom 10 and thus form the sides andends of a box while the top member 11 may be folded over the upper edgesof the members 1213 and 14E15 and thus form a closure to the box-likestructure. Hinged at 2627 to the free edge of the member 15 is a cleat28 foldable over the top member at one end when the device is in closedposition, and hinged at 29-30 to the free edge of the end member 14: isa similar cleat 31 foldable over the top member 11 at the opposite endwhen the device is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. By this meansa very complete and simply arranged receptacle is produced which may bequickly folded into box-like or crate form when required for use and isreadily opened out into fiatwise form as shown in Fig. 5, when the boxesare to be returned to the shipper, the several ture of the invention anddecreases materially the space occupied during the return shipment andthus materially decreases the expense of such shipment, as Will beobvious.

Fastening devices of suitable form, preferably hooks and staples, asshown at 3233, Will be employed to unite the various members When infolded position.

The device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured,and of any suitable material and of any suitable size, as Will beobvious, and employed for various commodities, but is especially adaptedfor use by farmers and gardeners in shipping produce to market, so thatthe shipping closures may be returned to the shipper at reduced expense.

What is claimed, is

In a folding crate a bottom member, a front member, a back member, saidbottom front and back members being hingedly united at their adjacentedges, a top member hingedly united to the back member, end membershingedly united to the bottom member at its ends, cleats hingedly unitedto the end members and foldable over the top member When the device isarranged in' box like form, and fastening devices between the cleats andthe top member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of tWoWitnesses. 7

SANDY W. BANKS, JR.

lVit-nesses J oI-IN BANKS, FRANK WALKER;

